Wardrobe suitcase



J. Rl-TT'ER, JR

WARDROBE SUITCASE Filed June 15 May 14, 1935.

. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I wNTfR.

ATTORNEY5.

May 14, 1935.. J. RITTER JR WARDROBE, SUITCASE Filed June 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR.

Patented May 14, 1935 PATENT OFFICE WARDRGBE SUITCASE poration of Wisconsin Application June 15, 1934, Serial No. 730,778

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in the construction of wardrobe suitcases, and relates more specifically to an improved garment carrier section especially applicable to standard size luggage cases for the purpose of foldably confining garments of maximum length within a minimum space and with a least number of folds in the garments.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved luggage confining structurewhich is simple and compact in construction, and which is moreover highly eflicient in use.

The present tendencies in travel make it imperative for luggage manufacturers to reduce to a minimum the size and weight of luggage cases, without undesirably sacrificing available space. The traveling public also demands that containers for wearing apparel such as suits, overcoats, and dresses, be adapted to efiectively conceal such garments without undesirably crushing and wrinkling the same, and that the garments be readily accessible without disturbing other paraphernalia confined within the carrying case. While it is desirable to have such garments thus snugly and safely confined within the luggage carrier during transportation, it is alsofrequently desirable to remove the articles and to hang the same in a wardrobe or closet when the destination of the traveler has been reached, on hanging devices with which the luggage confining structure is equipped. 1 I

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved luggage carrier sectionequipped wardrobe suitcase which meets all of the above requirements and other special requirements for every class of transportation, and forthe traveling trade in general.

Standard sizedsuitcascs measure, inside dimensionsyapproximately sixteen inches high by eight inches in width or depth. Heretofore in wardrobe hand luggage equipped with garment hanging and folding fixtures, which are loaded transverselyof the case, if it was desired to confine maximum'length garments, it was necessary to arrange the fixtures so that more than the usual number of folds would be imparted to the garments, or, in order to accommodate the garments with a minimum number of folds, it was necessary to increase either the depth or height of the luggage case, depending upon in what portion of the case the fixtures were mounted. Giving additional folds to the garments is objectionable from thestandpoint of wrinkling and creasing, whereas the increasing of the dimensions of the case also has its drawbacks If encountered in storing the case underneath a Pullman berth, while if the height of the case is increased, it makes handling and carrying of the case cumbersome.

It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to provide a standard sized, luggagecarrier section equipped suitcase arranged so that maximum length garments may be carried with a of folds within a minimum of space as afiorded by a standard sized luggage case.

A further specific object of the invention is toprovide a luggage carrier section applicable to the body portion of a suitcase and arranged to utilize for storage of the confined garments the depths of the body portion of the case as well as the height thereof, whereby approximately five inches is added to the folded garment space over what could formerly be utilized in a standard sized case, permitting the confinement, with a minimum of folds of ten inches more of garment length; v Y

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved wardrobe suitcase wherein one or more full-length garments may be compactly stored without wrinkling or damaging, and from which any selected garment may be conveniently removed, the suitcase further being arranged to segregate said stored garments from other garmerits and paraphernalia within the case.

- Another object of the invention is to provide an improved luggage carrier section for suitcases which is bodily removable from the suitcase and which may be conveniently loaded or unloaded at a point remote from the suitcase. Y

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a luggage carrier section for hand luggage cases, which includes a removable garment hanger which is adapted either for snug confinement within the carrier section, or for effective use when hanging an associated garmentin a wardrobe or closet.

These and other specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

,A clear conception of embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with a standard sized suitcase, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of an open suitcase with the improved luggage carrier section removed thereiromand resting forwardly of the suitcase;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a luggage carrier section equipped suitcase, there being a broken line showing of a garment thereon prior to the final folding of the same, the garment folding frame being in raised position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a partially closed luggage carrier section equipped suitcase with the carrier frame in its garment confining and folding position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the garment carrier showing the mounting for a coat hanger;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of an open suitcase equipped with an improved luggage carrier section, the section having a garment hanging bar for ladies garments;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 2 only showing the carrier section equipped with a garment hanging bar instead of a coat hanger; I

Fig. 8 is a. similar view showing the case partially closed and with a garment folded and confined;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the carrier section showing the mounting for the end of a garment bar; and

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on line |0l0 of Fig. 9.

While the invention has been shown herein as being specifically applied to a suitcase, it will be apparent that the novel features are capable of more general application and that the specific disclosure should not therefore be construed as an intent to limit the scope.

The suitcase specifically illustrated in the drawings is a standard sized suitcase and the height of the same, considered in its carrying position, is approximately sixteen inches. The depth or width of the suitcase, inside, is approximately eight inches, whereby the case, when closed, will conveniently fit beneath a Pullman berth. The case includes a body section IE to which a cover section I3 is hingedly connected. The body section [2 is provided with a carrying handle I4 and when the cover section is swung into closed relation with respect to the body section it may be so locked by means of latches IS. The cover section is adapted to be held in substantially upright position when open by means of flexible retaining stays iii. The suitcase is adapted to be loaded with garments such as coats, suits, dresses and the like, transversely of its length and inasmuch as the length of the case is considerably greater than the width of garments of this type, the body section i2 is provided with a transverse partition ll which, together with a longitudinal partition. !8, near the front wall of the body section, divides the body section into an end shoe compartment IS, a main compartment 2G, and a forward garment carrier section compartment 2|. The rear wall of the body section, below the top thereof and within the compartment 20, is provided with angled supports 22. Said supports provide seats for the inner end portion of a removable tray-like garment loading section 23 which is adapted to be housed within the compartment 2 I, the upper portion of the compartment 23, and to be closed by the cover section it into which the member 23 partially extends when the cover is closed with respect to the body section.

The tray-dike garment loading section 23 is composed of a bottom member having a relatively wide flat portion 24, and coextensive with the partition l8 said bottom portion is curved downwardly, as at 25, and then forwardly as at 26. The underside of said portion 28 is provided with a flat supporting foot 21 to rest on the bottom of the compartment 2 i The bottom member of the tray is enclosed, except at its forward edge, by a rear wall 28 and parallel side walls 23. The portions of the side walls extending upwardly from the tray portion 24 are the same height as the rear wall 28, while the forward portions of said side walls extend down to the tray portions 25 and 26.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the luggage carrier section is adapted for housing mens suits, coats and like garments. To that end a plurality of coat hangers 3% are provided for cooperation therewith. Projecting inwardly from the rear wall 28 of the tray, intermediate the ends of the same and extending form the tray portion 24 to the top of said rear wall, is a T-shaped bracket 3|. Each of the hangers 36 carries a plate 32 formed with a T-slot 33 therein. By this arrangement, a plurality of hangers 39, either loaded or unloaded, may be connected with the bracket 3|. and mounted in stacked or superimposed relation within the tray member above the portion 24, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each coat hanger has pivotally secured thereto a hook 34, which, when the hanger is removed from the tray, may be turned to a projecting position for depending the hanger from a support within a closet.

A garment folding and confining frame is pivotally associated with the outermost surface of the traylike member 23. Said frame comprises a pair of spaced-apart side arms 35 having curved outer end portions 35. Near their extremities said curved portions 35 are connected by a transverse bar 36, and the arms are further connected by another transverse bar 3'! extended between the arm portions adjacent the juncture of the curved and straight portions of the same. The inner ends of the frame arms 35 are pivotally connected against intermediate inner portions of the tray side walls 29 by pivot pins 38.

In order to load the improved suitcase with garments accommodated by the garment carrier section 23, said carrier section is first disposed in a horizontal position either within the body section of the suitcase, or exteriorly of the body section on any suitable support. When disposed in proper position within the body of the suitcase the inner end of the tray-like member rests on the brackets 22, while the curved forward end portion of the member 23 depends into the compartment 2| immediately forwardly of the partition I8. Prior to loading it is essential that the garment folding frame be swung away from the tray-like member to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the garment hangers 30 are freely vertically removable from the T-bracket 3 1. Upon removal of the hangers 30, garments may be hung thereon, after which the hangers are re-engaged with the bracket 3!. The garments will extend forwardly and will drape over the front end of the tray-like member and over the front edge of the suitcase, if the tray-like member is already in the suitcase, as in Fig. 2. Next, the garment folding frame should be lowered so that it extends down into the pocket formed by the lowered forward end portion of the member 23 and the transverse bars 36 and 3'! engage intermediate portions of the garments and press the same downwardly along the contour of the portions 25 and 25 of the member 23. If the member 23 has been loaded exteriorly of the suitcase it should then be disposed within the-body portion of "-rihesuitcase, as previously expiained. The projecting ends of the garments should then be folded rearwardly over bars 36 and 3 as inFig. 3. l l

Prior to loading the member 13 thecompartments of the body of the suitcase may be "packed with articles of apparel and traveling paraphernalia. The partitions serve to keep various classes of articles segregated and the partition pro- "vides a separate compartment for the curved end portion of the member Z3 Whereby "does not interfere with articles packed in the other compartments. The closing of the cover 13 serves to close and cover the member 23. "Due to the peculiar shape of the member 23 apparel of greater length may be accommodated with a minimum cffolds, than was possible heretofore. The down curved portion 25 of said member adds considerable length to available length of the tray-lure member and utilizes the depth of the case in addition to its transverse dimension. i

In order to remove a oonfinedgarmen't from the suitcase, the cover is'first opened. Then the frame is swung upwardly, whereupon access to the hangers may be had to permit removal of the same with the garments thereon. By virtue of the hooks 34, when the-coat hangers are-removed they side walls 2-9 of the memberfl carry inwardly projecting vertically arranged brackets H having vertical slots 42 therein. Bot-h; ends of abar W are formed with reduced headed extensions which are adapted to enter intothe slots #2 whereby'a plural number of bars may be removably fastened. within the member 23 in '-st acked relation, as in Figs. 9 and 10. Agarment maybe draped on a removed bar Hi6, "substantially 'rnedial- 1y, afterwhich the draped bar is mounted in the member 23. Upon'lcvvering the garment folding frame, the projecting end portion of the garment may be folded back over the bars 36 and 3'! as in Fig. 8. r r i From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a garment carrier section equipped suitcase which is simple and compact and which is moreover highly efiicient in operation and use. The garment carrier section adds materially to the space which could heretofore be utilized for mounted garmerits and by virtue thereof maximum length garments may be foldably confined within standard size suitcases, within a minimum transverse space and with a minimum of folds in the garments. The garments confined within the suitcase by the carrier section will not be undesirably wrinkled and are effectively protected against damage and soiling. The improved garment carrier section is obviously applicable to various types of luggage carriers, and .by mounting the garment hangers upon the bodily movable tray-like section the construction is reduced to its simplest form because it avoids necessity of providing special mounting means forthe hangers within the cover section of the suitcase. The unitary construction of the garment carrier section whereby the hangers and. the garment folding frame are mounted upon a common frame provides rigidity and simplicity and furthermore provides a construction which can be loaded and unloaded in any convenient position without undue study or experience on the part of the user. It should be understood that is not desired to the invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of use herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur taper-- sons skilled in the art.

@What is claimed as the invention is: 1. In a wardrobe suitcase, a garment carrier section having a relatively flat portion, a garment hanger :detacha-bly mountable w-itlrin'said section, and 'agarment folding frame carried by said section and extending beyond said flat port-ion and-cooperable with saidhangerto fold. a garment associated with the latter medially of the length of the garment and to additionally offset the overlapping folded garment portions from the plane of normal draping thereof 'f-romsaid hanger and beyond said flat portion. 7 '2. In a wardrobe structure, a garment carrier section, a garment hanger detachably mountable upon said section, and a garment folding frame carried by said section and having a folding edge coc'perable with agar-ment associated with said hangei'to fold the same medially of its length, said folding edge being disposed a substantial distance laterally of the plane of normal draping of the garmentfrom said hanger.

3. Ina luggage carrier, a support having a flat base portion, a "garment hanger detachabl-y carried by said support, a garment folding frame, and means for pivotally mounting the garment folding frame adjacent said Support with the op posite end portion of said frame extending beyond an edge of said flat base portion, the frame beingcoopera'ble with said hanger to medially fold a garmentmounted on the latter and to additionally laterally off'set overlapping folded garment portions from they plane of the normal direction of extent "thereof from said hanger and beyond the hat base portion. j '4. In a luggage carriena relatively flat support, 'a garment hanger, means for removably mounting said hanger adjacent one end of said support, a garment folding frame having an offset end portion including a garment folding bar, and means for pivotally mounting said frame adtending beyond and laterally of the end of the support opposite the hanger, the frame being cooperable with said hanger to engage the extended end portions of a garment mounted on the latter and to offset said garment portions from the plane of the flat support.

5. In a luggage carrier, a relatively flat support, a garment hanger, means for removably mounting said hanger adjacent one end of said support, a garment folding frame having an offset end portion including a garment folding bar, and means for pivotally mounting said frame adjacent the support, the frame being swingable to position its offset portion and garment folding bar beyond and laterally of the end of the fiat support opposite the hanger whereby the frame displaces end portions of garments draped on the hanger laterally of the plane of the fiat support.

6. A garment confining structure, comprising a support, a garment hanger removably associated therewith, and a garment folding frame pivotally associated with the support, said frame having a garment engaging offset end portion swingable to fit-l a position beyond and laterally of the plane of the major portion of the support.

7. A garment confining structure, comprising a member having a relatively flat supporting portion, a garment hanger, means for removably mounting the hanger adjacent one end of said supporting portion, a garment folding frame, and means for pivotally mounting said frame adjacent said supporting portion, the garment folding frame having a laterally offset garment engaging end portion and the frame being swingable with respect to said support to position said frame end portion beyond and laterally of said flat supporting portion.

8. A garment confining structure, comprising a container, a supporting element having a flat portion within a portion of the interior of the container, there being a pocket within the container extending laterally of one end of the flat portion of the supporting element, a garment hanger, means for removably mounting the garment hanger adjacent the other end of the flat portion of the supporting element, a garment folding frame having a laterally offset garment engaging end portion, and means for pivotally mounting said frame adjacent the supporting element whereby said frame is swingable to position its offset end portion within the container pocket.

9. A garment confining structure, comprising a container, a supporting element having a flat portion removably mounted Within the container, there being a well within the container at one end of the supporting element fiat portion and extending laterally of the plane thereof, a garment hanger, means for removably mounting the garment hanger adjacent the other end of the supporting element flat portion, a garment folding frame having a laterally offset garment engaging end portion, and means for pivotally connecting said frame to the supporting element whereby said frame is swingable to position its offset end portion within the container well.

10. In combination, a luggage case including a body section and a cover section hingedly connected thereto, a tray-like member having a fiat base portion removably mounted within a portion of said body section and a laterally extending well at one end of the tray-like members base portion, a garment hanger, means for removably mounting the garment hanger adjacent the other end of the flat base portion, a garment folding frame having a laterally offset end portion including a garment engaging bar, and means for pivotally connecting said frame to the tray-like member whereby said frame is swingable to position its end portion within said well to coact with a garment mounted on said hanger to fold the garment medially of its length and to additionally offset overlapping folded garment portions into said well, the cover section of the luggage case being movable to close the body section and said tray-like member.

11. In combination, a luggage case including a body section and a cover section hingedly connected thereto, a tray-like member having a flat base portion removably mounted within a portion of said body section and a laterally extending Well at one end of the tray-like members base portion, a pair of separate garment hangers, means for removably mounting both of the garment hangers in juxtaposition adjacent the other end of the flat base portion, a garment folding frame having a laterally offset end portion including a garment engaging bar, and means for pivotally connecting said frame to the traylike member whereby said frame is swingable to position its end portion within said well to coact with garments mounted on both hangers to fold the garments medially and to additionally offset overlapping folded garment portions into said well, the cover section of the luggage case being movable to close the body section and said traylike member.

12. In a luggage carrier, a support, a garment hanger, means for mounting said hanger adjacent one end portion of said support, a garment folding frame having an offset end portion including a garment folding edge, and means for pivotally mounting said frame adjacent the support with the offset end portion extending beyond and laterally of the end of the support opposite the hanger, the frame being cooperable with said hanger to engage the extended end portions of a garment mounted on the latter and to offset said garment portions from the plane of the support.

JULIUS BITTER, JR. 

